[2] Together with his wife Joanne Cole,[3] he created Bod, originally published as four books in 1965 and made into a TV show in the 1970s,[4] as well as Fingerbobs[5] and Gran.

Narrated by John Le Mesurier and Maggie Henderson with music by Derek Griffiths, nine new stories were created which were later made into books.

In the early 1980s Cole wrote and directed two studio programmes for BBC, Bric-a-brac starring Brian Cant in a fictitious junk shop[17] and Chockablock featuring a big yellow computer and presented by Fred Harris and Carol Leader.

The 13 episodes featured everyday people and animals living on Pigeon street, including such characters as long distant lorry driver, Clara, with a song to match.

[21] These tales of a most surprising grandmother, which were later developed into books, were animated by Ivor Wood (who had worked on the first series of Postman Pat ) and were narrated by Patricia Hayes.

The same year Fingermouse was released, a musical version of Fingerbobs starring the paper mouse and other puppets, Joanne Cole's last work.

[23] One year later, Bod's Way was published, written and illustrated by his children Alison and Laurence and based on Cole's original ideas.